Electric binding-post.



PATENTBD MAY 22, 1906.

1T M L 3 i U j p K Z I a iii, L

W. E. now. ELECTRIC BINDING POST.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1905.

llllullllll UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ELECTRIC BINDING-POST- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed August 21, 1905. Serial No. 274,969.

accompanying drawin s, is a specification,

like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention, while adapted to general use, is particularly intended for automobiles and other-places where a quick and more or less automatic securing of the circuit-wire is desired and also, preferably, where an auto-- matic contact is made, my invention preferably including both an automatic contact device and an automatically-operating bindingpost.

In carrying out my invention, as herein shown in its preferred form, I provide a hollow post containing a hole, preferably in the form of a slot, for receiving the wire, and within the post is a spring-held clamp for automatically en a ing when released the'wire placed in said lode or slot, and at the opposite end of the spring or other controlling device is the contact-post which automatically makes contact with the battery or'othcr circuit-terminals.

The constructional details of my invention and further advantages thereof will be pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown two of the preferred constructions of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my binding-post in side elevation, the surrounding cap being shown in section. Fi 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the binding-post proper. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the barrel or hollow post. Fig. 4 shows the contact-block. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the automatic clamp in side elevation; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig- 1, showing. the form of my invention employed for low-tension current, Fig. 1 showing the form for hi h-tension current.

I have illustrated my device as I provide it for automatic coil-closing boxes. In the bottom :1 of such a box I screw or otherwise se cure the plug end 2 of a cap or casing of insulation, whose removable portion 3 is aperturcd at 4 to receive an insulated mm 5, adapted to carry usual high-tension current.

The binding-post proper is threaded at 6 and centrally mounted in the plug end or boss 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the binding-post comprises a hollow barrel 7, containing suitable means for maintaining the parts in position, herein shown as a spring 8, at the upper end of which is a contact 9, whose head 10 bears on said spring, being retained by a nut 11, and at the opposite end of the spring is a clamp comprising a head 12 and an annular recess or cut-away portion 13- adjacent a guiding? flange 14 and operated by a stem or plunger 15, being retained within the barrel by a flange or shoulder 16. When in locking position, the head 12 of the clamp almost, but not quite, closes down over the lower end 17 of an opening 18, herein shown as extending out at one side of said barrel to constitute a slot 19, that when the operator desires to secure a circuit-wire he simply presses upwardly on the stem or plunger 15, thereby raising the clamp to the position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the wire to is caused to enter the slot in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, beneath the head 12 of said clamp, whereupon the latter is released and immediately carries the wire to under the action of spring 8 down forcibly against the ends 17 of the holes 18.

In use when it is desired to connect a hightension conductor, such as that shown in Fig. 1, the cap 3 is unscrewed and allowed to slip down over the wire 5, the insulation of the latter being cut away at its free end so as to leave bare the conductor proper. The plunger 15 is thereupon pressed upwardly so as to raise the clamp in position to receive the wire, wh ch is inserted sidewise into the slot 19 beneath the head 12. The operator then releases the plunger 15, which is immediately forced down by spring 8 into clamping engagement with said wire. The cap 3 is then raised and screwed onto the hub 22. All this is accomplished in a moment.

With low-tension currents it is unnecessary to provide the casing, and accordingly I modify the construction,,as shown in Fig. 6, where it will be seen that I have elongated the nut 11 so as to form a tubular nut 20, having coarse external threads 21 for screwing into the wood at the bottom of the coilboX or such other place as it maybe used, the contact-post 9 projecting yieldingly upward abovesaid bottom the same as shown in Fig. 1. In practice for automobile Work I make these posts the size shown in Fig. 1, although it will be understood that they will be varied to suit the size of wire and other relations in which they may be used. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A binding-post, comprising a hollow post provided with a dia onal slot in one side, and a spring-actuated clamp sliding in said post transversely of said slot and occupying a releasing position when opposite the mouth of said slot and a clamping position vsl hen adjacent the lower, inner end of said s ot.

2. A binding-post, comprising a hollow post provided with a-diagonal slot in one side, a spring in said post, a headed contact movably retainingsaid spring at one end of said post and a headed clamp engagin the opposilte end of said spring and movab e past said s ot.

3. A binding-post, comprising a hollow, apertured post, externally threaded at one end, and having a shouldered opening at its opposite end, a headed clamp in said post having an operating-stem projecting through said end opening, a spring engaging said clamp, a movable contact at the opposite end of said post held yieldingly by said spring, and aretaining-nut engaging the threaded end of said post and retaining all the parts within the latter.

4. A binding-post, comprisinga hollow, diagonally-slotted post containing oppositelyprojecting yielding devices at its opposite ends and an intervenin spring normally holding them apart, one 0%said devices being provided with clamping means for clamping movement with relation to the diagonal slot tobind a circuit-terminal therein, and the other of said devices constituting a yielding contact.

5. A binding-post, comprising a hollow, apertured post containing oppositely-projecting yielding devices at its opposite ends and an intervening spring normally holding them apart, one of said devices being provided with clamping means for clamping movement with relation to the aperture to bind a circuit-terminal therein, and the other of said devices constituting a yielding contact, the adjacent end of saidpost being externally threaded, and a cap-shaped nut internally threaded to fit said post and externally threaded for mounting purposes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLARD E. DOW. 

